BASICS OF WINE MAKING

The basis of winemaking

The fundamental stages involved in the making of any wine are:

1 extracting the flavor from the ingredients

2 fermentation

3 maturation and bottling

There
are endless ingredients that can be used to create the must (liquid pre
fermentation), ranging from Grapes and other fruits to more unusual
ingredients including Dandelion and Elderflower. Like brewing beer, this is what makes wine making so addictive as you can experiment with different blends and flavours.

Wine Kits

The simpliest and most reliable way
for the beginner to produce wine is to use a kit. These contain
concentrated fruit extract and yeast. The extract is diluted with water
producing the must. The yeast is then added and the must left to
ferment. Fermentation time varies depending on the kit. The Calfornia
Connoisseur kits we sell take around 1 week. Fermentation takes place in
a closed fermentation vessel under airlock.

Once fermentation is complete the
wine is then matured in bulk (usually glass or plastic demi-johns) until
its ready to bottle. Again the length of this time depends on the kit,
but normally around 3 weeks. Once bottled, the wine is ready to drink.

Most wines will benefit from extented
bottling so the flavours can develop but as with shop bought wines,
some are not suitable for long term storage.

The quality of the kits available
today means that exceptional quality wines can be produced for the
fraction of the shop bought equivalent. Kits are available in six or thirty bottle varieties and in a comprehensive range, enabling production of most varieties.

Country Wines

Wines made at home from home grown
ingredients are known as country wines. The same basic principals for
brewing kits applies, except here you are preparing the must yourself.
Like brewing beer, there are hundreds of recipes available to prepare
the must and you may need a large pan and strainer if the must requires
boiling. The process is then the same as producing from a kit, although
fermentation and maturing times are usually extended.

Wine can be made from just about
anything that can impart flavour, sugar can be added if the main flavour
provider is not high in sugar.

Fruits are very good at producing
wine and most are high in natural sugars. Elderberry, Cherry, Apple and
Rhubarb all make great wines but some fantastic wines can also be made
from less obvious sources.

Country wine is less consistent than
producing wines from kits as there is less control of the ingredients
but its also a lot more economical, especially as most of the
ingredients can be sourced for free right outside your own home.
Experimentation will give you great results but you can expect some
failures too although these will probably be drinkable!

As the ingredients are seasonal,
there is a real feeling of being in touch with nature and the seasons.
Summer and Autumn being the particularly fruitful and busy seasons for
the country wine maker.

Like brewing beer, there is an initial investment in equipment required but this can be used time and time again, making subsequent batches much more economical.